What is a Missionary Pilot

What is a missionary pilot?

A missionary pilot is a trained pilot who uses aviation skills to support missionary work in hard-to-reach places.

Missionary pilots use small aircraft to provide services like medical evacuations, transportation of ministry workers, disaster relief support, or the delivery of essential supplies like food, water, Bibles, and medicine. Without missionary pilots willing to serve God with their aviation skills, isolated communities may not have a connection to the outside world.

If you’re sensing the Lord calling you to mission aviation, the information below answers common questions about becoming a missionary pilot.

How do I become a missionary pilot?

First and foremost, to become a missionary pilot, you must have a personal, growing relationship with God and the desire to serve Him through aviation. If you feel called to mission aviation, a good place to start is to pursue a 4-5-year aviation degree that includes private, commercial, and instrument ratings.

Next, to prepare for the challenging environments you’ll fly in, it’s important to build experience. Some pilots do this through flight instructing, and some choose to earn an A&P certificate, which is highly valuable on the mission field.

How much flight time do I need to be a missionary pilot?

Every mission organization has different requirements for the amount of flight time needed to serve. At Mission Aviation Fellowship, pilots without an A&P certificate must have a minimum of 1,000 flight hours. You can see the breakdown of qualifications for MAF pilots, pilot/mechanics, maintenance technicians, and avionics technicians here.

How long does it take to become a missionary pilot?

The training timeline for a missionary pilot depends on your commitment and the path you take. For most pilots preparing to serve with organizations like Mission Aviation Fellowship, the full training journey takes roughly 4-6 years.

What are the next steps after being accepted to Mission Aviation Fellowship?

Once accepted with Mission Aviation Fellowship, pilots spend time building a team of financial and prayer partners, completing field training, and attending language school before heading to one of the 12 countries where MAF serves.

Missionary pilots provide lifesaving services for communities that are socially and geographically isolated. More than just pilots, they are cross-cultural servants, technical problem-solvers, and ambassadors of Christ who use aviation to open doors that would otherwise remain closed.

If you’re interested in applying or want help discerning if becoming a missionary pilot is the right path for you, reach out to Mission Aviation Fellowship. You don’t have to figure this out alone.